Here’s how the Joint Unmanned
Combat Air Systems program and its vehicles are redefining the future
of flight and warfare

BY KATHERINE SOPRANOS

Two
sleek, stealthy aircraft are majestically poised on the runway at Edwards
Air Force Base, Calif., ready to take to the skies. Nicknamed “Stingray
1” and “Stingray 2,” what distinguishes these Boeing
Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems X-45A vehicles from other aircraft at
the base isn’t just their futuristic, Hollywoodesque look. It’s
that they will revolutionize the future of flight and warfare.

Boeing is making history in the 21st century with the unmanned
combat air vehicle (UCAV) that operates on a vastly complex computer system.
These aircraft can engage in high-threat combat missions while the pilot
safely carries out the mission from a remote ground location anywhere
in the world. With Boeing’s game-changing J-UCAS X-45 program, certain
air combat missions as we know them might just fly out the window. The
UCAV concept of “fly-by-mouse” means the pilot, or operator,
sits in a ground station instead of a cockpit and manages multiple vehicles
in high-threat combat missions by a computer mouse instead of a stick
and rudder. The pilot’s view is a computer console instead of the
combat-zone skies.

X-45 milestones

Select milestones from the X-45 program

May 2002: X-45A completes first flight

November 2002: Second X-45A completes first flight

February 2003: All ground and flight objectives for first demonstration phase completed

The X-45A model, designed as an experimental aircraft, will transition
to the more advanced J-UCAS X-45C. In 2006 Boeing is expected to complete
the assembly of the first X-45C, with flight testing scheduled to begin
in 2007. The X-45C will significantly increase the warfighter’s
effectiveness in missions such as suppression of enemy air defenses; airborne
electronic attacks; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

“The J-UCAS X-45C continues Boeing’s proud heritage in
unmanned systems and becomes the first member of a family of combat unmanned
systems for the combat air forces,” said Darryl Davis, Boeing Integrated
Defense Systems vice president, Global Strike Solutions. “It is
an affordable, highly effective warfighting system that operates both
autonomously and cooperatively with manned systems in a networked combat
environment. The X-45 program’s success is attributed to the incredible
work and dedication of Boeing employees who made this vision reality.”

“As far as I know, no one else is doing what we’re doing
right now,” said Robert Horton, chief pilot of the J-UCAS X-45A
for Boeing. “This is the future of many applications in aviation,
and we’re leading the pack in combat.”

At NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards, Boeing has
been testing and developing the X-45A to show it’s possible to have
one pilot on the ground control more than one autonomous aircraft.

The X-45 program is a U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA), U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
joint effort, which also involves NASA. It demonstrates the technical
feasibility, military utility and operational value of a networked system
of high-performance, unmanned air vehicles for the military. Boeing Phantom
Works originally developed the UCAV for DARPA and the Air Force.

When DARPA awarded Boeing the UCAV contract in 1999, Boeing structured
the X-45A program as a series of demonstrations that evolved into four
phases, or blocks—gradually increasing mission functionalities in
the autonomous system. This led to four major phases of software testing
and associated demonstrations, including command and control, contingency
management, logic and decision making, satellite communications, auto
routing, weapons release, and multivehicle communications.

The X-45A is only 26.5 feet long (8.08 meters) with a body thickness
of merely 3.7 feet (113 centimeters) and can carry eight weapons. It’s
a powerful, technical wonder.

On May 22, 2002, Boeing’s X-45A demonstrator made aviation history
with its first flight at Edwards. This marked the birth of the first autonomous
unmanned system for combat operations in a network-centric environment.
Since then, Boeing and the X-45A team have accomplished nearly all required
flights and ground demonstrations, including satellite communications
testing from mission control 900 miles (1,450 kilometers) distant in Seattle,
weapons testing by releasing a small smart bomb on a ground target, and
simulated combat missions.

Currently, Boeing is nearing completion of the fourth and final phase
before it transitions to the X-45C program.

But don’t think UCAVs take pilots out of the equation. To the contrary,
pilots are still critical to UCAV operation. UCAVs aren’t intended
to replace pilots; rather, they will perform missions in high-threat situations
while the pilot sits safely miles away from the hot zone.

TRADITIONAL PILOT VS. ‘FLY-BY-MOUSE’

Starting up an aircraft with a laptop computer and “flying by mouse”
are just a few of the differences of UCAV flight versus traditional piloting.

“As a UCAV pilot, you’re engaged in the same human decision
making, such as identifying targets and making decisions on attack. It’s
just on the ground instead,” Horton said.

“Airplanes fly on the mission plan and do the administrative part
such as maintaining and adjusting altitude, landing gear activation, creating
flight plans during missions, weapons release, takeoffs and landings,”
said Horton, a former U.S. Air Force squadron commander and weapons system
operator. “The strategic decision making is left to the pilot.”

Another difference is the pilots are managing a system of airplanes,
not just one plane. The hardware—vehicle, ground control station,
human systems interface and mission management—integrate with the
software to create an open system where a single pilot, or operator, can
control multiple vehicles.

Unmanned
fliers to meet any need

Along with the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems X-45C, Boeing
is developing or has in production a wide range of unmanned vehicles
to give military planners just the right bird for any mission. They
include

Just like a traditional flight, pilots conduct preflight systems checks
prior to takeoff, and communicate with mission control and air traffic
management control towers. The UCAV taxis down the runway autonomously,
and when it’s ready for takeoff the operator—with a click
of the mouse—presses “go,” and the UCAV begins its mission.

“The whole key to designing the X-45 is that no one knows 10 years
from now how computer-based actions will be deployed, so we’re making
systems—including ground-station hardware—flexible to adapt
to developing technology over the years,” Horton said.

TEST FLIGHTS DEFINE OPERATIONS

For the X-45A test flights, the pilot sits in front of a command-and-control
console. The UCAV is programmed with a preloaded mission plan and an “electronic
order of battle” defining targets, among other preprogrammed data.
During the mission, the UCAV continuously sends data to the pilot, who
manages the information displayed on the computer screen. “You can’t
predict what the planes are going to do in the combat area. It’s
all based on the real-time situation,” said Horton. Real-time decisions
the UCAV makes include altitude, speed and flight plan changes addressing
pop-up threats.

The X-45As are autonomously using decision-making software to determine
the best route of flight within the area of action and to detect weapons
and danger. If a threat appears, the UCAV uses evasive maneuvers and develops
a flight plan to attack ,explained Horton. That flight plan is then sent
to the pilot on the ground. If the operator agrees with the flight plan,
he or she will authorize the attack via a click of the computer mouse,
and the aircraft then will drop the designated weapons.

Like traditional aircraft, the system must be reliable and have redundancies
in case of a failure. For instance, if the pilot loses his or her primary
communication link, the system autonomously swaps to the backup. The pilot
also can override autonomous settings.

“The X-45A program has proven it is possible to employ autonomous
air vehicles in a combat environment,” said Jim Martin, Boeing IDS
director, J-UCAS X-45 System Test. “It is possible for a single
pilot to manage multiple vehicles and for air vehicles to communicate
with each other and make real-time decisions that lead to effective prosecution
of an attack.”

“The pilot of the future will be managing information and responsible
for top-level decision making,” Horton said.

EVOLVING FROM X-45A TO X-45C

With nearly all requirements achieved for the X-45A, Boeing’s next
step is to transition from the X-45A model, designed as experimental aircraft
to test technologies, to the far more capable X-45C model. This model
will be designed to provide unprecedented range, persistence and survivability
in hostile airspace.

The J-UCAS X-45C is the first unmanned system specifically designed for
combat operations. The first X-45C will be 39 feet long with a 49-foot
wingspan (11.9 meters by 14.9 meters) and will cruise at Mach 0.85 at
an altitude of 40,000 feet (12,200 meters). The sleek body, only 4 feet
(122 centimeters) thick, will have a weapons payload of 4,500 pounds (2,040
kilograms) with two internal weapons bays. The X-45C will be able to carry
eight Small Diameter Bombs or the full range of Boeing’s Joint Direct
Attack Munition. It also can carry auxiliary fuel tanks or other payloads
to support missions such as electronic attack.

Next, Boeing will build and flight-test three X-45C aircraft and two
mission control elements and will integrate the J-UCAS Common Operating
System that will allow unmanned aircraft systems to intraoperate with
each other globally. The software Boeing created and tested on the X-45A
may be offered as a candidate in the development of the Common Operating
System.

“The X-45C will build directly off the experience, lessons learned
and capabilities demonstrated on the X-45A,” Martin said. “It
will be a larger vehicle with significantly more range and persistence.
Stealth is a primary design driver. Stealth is key to the system’s
ability to penetrate enemy airspace and destroy air defense systems.”

“Onboard planning and decision capabilities will make the X-45C
a highly survivable platform. The Boeing X-45C will effectively and affordably
fill critical gaps in key Air Force and Navy mission areas,” added
David Koopersmith, Boeing J-UCAS X-45 vice president and program manager.